What to expect from your pharmacy team

Pharmacists are experts in medicines who can help you with minor health concerns.

As qualified healthcare professionals, they can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains.

If symptoms suggest it's something more serious, pharmacists have the right training to make sure you get the help you need. For example they will tell you if you need to see a GP.

All pharmacists train for 5 years in the use of medicines. They are also trained in managing minor illnesses and providing health and wellbeing advice.

Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends. You don't need an appointment – you can just walk in.

Most pharmacies have a private consultation room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff without being overheard.

Help with your medicines

Pharmacists can answer your questions on prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

All pharmacies provide the following services:

dispensing of NHS prescriptions

access to the repeat prescription service (with agreement from your GP)

an emergency supply of medicine (subject to the decision of the pharmacist)

non-prescription medicines like paracetamol

disposal of unwanted or out-of-date medicines

advice on treating minor health concerns and healthy living

Pharmacy technicians can help with things like:

inhaler technique

how to take a medicine safely

helping you understand the correct dose of a new medicine and how often you need to take it

Repeat prescriptions

If you're regularly prescribed the same medicine, your GP may offer a prescription that can be repeated several times.

You choose which pharmacy you would prefer to collect your prescriptions from and your GP will send your prescription there.

You'll then be able to collect your repeat medicines directly from the pharmacy you have chosen until your doctor needs to review your treatment. This means fewer trips to the GP just to get another prescription.

If you are using this service, you will need to contact your chosen pharmacy a few days before you run out of medicine to ask for a new prescription and find out when it will be ready.

As part of this service, the pharmacist will ask if you're having any problems or side effects with your prescription medicines and, where appropriate, they can discuss this with you and your GP.

Minor illnesses

Pharmacies can give treatment advice about a range of common conditions and minor injuries, such as:

aches and pains

sore throat

coughs

colds

flu

earache

cystitis

skin rashes

teething

red eye

If you want to buy an over-the-counter medicine, the pharmacist and their team can help you choose.

Antibiotics will not be available over the counter to treat minor conditions.

New Medicine Service

The New Medicine Service is available at pharmacies to give you extra help and advice if you're just starting on a new medicine for one of the following conditions:

Medicines Use Review

You can make an appointment with a pharmacist for a more detailed consultation called a Medicines Use Review. This is especially useful if you regularly take several prescription medicines or have a long-term illness.

Other healthcare professionals may also ask for your permission to refer you to a pharmacy of your choice for a Medicines Use Review, for example when you have been discharged from hospital with a change to your medicines.

You can talk about what you're taking, when you should be taking it, and any side effects you might be concerned about.

Tell your pharmacist if you're taking any over-the-counter medicines or any herbal remedies. They can advise you whether these can be taken at the same time or not.

Disposing of old medicines

If your medicine is out of date, unwanted, or some of it is left over after you have stopped taking it, don't put it in your household bin or flush it down the toilet. Instead, take it to your pharmacy to be disposed of safely.